Combination punch and grommet setting device



M. BECHIK March 29, 1955 COMBINATION PUNCH AND GROMMET SETTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1954 3 sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Bea/2Z1? @evzrs March 29, 1955 M. BECHIK 2,705,087

COMBINATION PUNCH AND GROMMET SETTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 19 .3

M. BECHIK March 29, 1955 COMBINATION PUNCH AND GROMMET SETTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 13, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent COlVIBlNATION PUNCH AND GROMMET SETTING DEVICE Michael Bechik, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Bechik Products, Inc., St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application January 13, 1954, Serial No. 403,811

8 Claims. (Cl. 218-14) My invention relates generally to punch presses and more particularly to devices of this class for successively punching holes in the compressible walls of mattresses or the like, and thereafter inserting grommets in said apertures.

In devices of the class above described, cooperating punch and die elements are mounted for movements toward and away from each other, one in the bed plate and the other in an overlying head. The mattress wall is interposed between the punch and die elements and same are caused to come into engagement with each other whereby to punch a hole in the wall. The punch is then retracted and the operator manually places a grommet into the aperture and causes same to be again aligned with the punch and die elements to secure same to the wall in said opening. A great deal of time has heretofore been lost in the realigning of the opening in the mattress wall with the punch and die elements between the step of initially punching the hole and the compressing of the grommet.

The primary object of my invention is the provision I of a device of the class described which is equipped with a presser foot which will automatically be positioned in engagement with the compressible mattress wall during the punching operation so as to retain the aperture in the wall in alignment with the punch and die elements during separation thereof, so as to totally eliminate the necessity of realigning the wall with the punch and die elements for the subsequent grommet setting operation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described, wherein the presser foot element will be automatically positioned in engagement with the mattress wall during the aperture punching operation, which will remain in operative position against the mattress wall during the successive step of placing and setting of the grommets, and which will automatically be moved out of engagement with said wall at the completion of said grommet setting operation, whereby to leave the machine in condition to duplicate the operation of punching of the aperture and setting of the grommet.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described, which is completely automatic and foolproof in its operation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described, which has a minimum of working parts and is relatively simple in its operation and may be constructed and maintained at a minimum of cost.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of my novel structure;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in rear elevation;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, as seen substantially from the line 44 of Fig. 3, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4,- but showing a different position of some of the parts thereof;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the punch and die elements positioned as seen in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the grommets which are set with my novel structure.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1 identifies in its entirety supporting structure, including legs 2, a bed plate 3 and a generally 0- shaped head 4.

Mounted for movements in a vertical plane in said head 4, toward and away from the bed plate 3, is a conventional die element 5 which is provided adjacent its upper end with an aperture 6 for the sliding reception of the free end 7 of a lever 8, centrally pivoted as at 9. Die element 5 is provided with a laterally opening passage 10 for discharge of blanks pressed from a mattress wall, or the like, A, interposed there-between, and a punch unit, provided with a bushing supplying a mattresssupporting surface, is secured fast with respect to the bed plate by means of a set-screw, or the like, 12. The punch unit includes, see particularly Fig. 7, a punch element 11 and a sleeve 13 having a radially inwardly and upwardly tapering upper edge portion 14 which is biased to project above the plane of the punch element 11 by means of a coil spring 15, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. An elongated punch rod 16 is secured to the bottom end of punch element 11 and is slidably mounted concentrically with the sleeve 13 for vertical movements through the bed plate 3 and the punch unit.

As shown, particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, a transverse shaft 17, having its opposite ends journalled in the supporting structure 2, is provided at its intermediate portion with a cam 18, the lobe of which engages the lower end portion 19 of the punch rod 16. A coil spring 20, interposed between the underside of the bed plate and a cross pin 21 on the punch rod 16, biases the punch rod toward engagement with the cam 18. Projecting radially outwardly from the cam 18 is a handle-equipped arm 22. A horizontal rock shaft 23 has its opposite end portions journalled in bearing caps 24 on the rear end portion of the supporting structure 2, below the rear end portions 25 of lever 8. A crank member, including a rod 26 parallel to the rock shaft 23 and radially offset therefrom and a segment 27, is secured to said rock shaft 23 for common movements therewith. An adjustable link 28 is interposed between the rod 26 and the bifurcated rear end portion 25 of the lever 8. The rock shaft 23 is biased by means of torsion springs 29 toward a position to move the segment 27, and parts associated therewith, to the position of Fig. 1.

A second horizontal rock shaft 30 is mounted in bearing caps 31, above the level of rock shaft 23. A toggleacting crank arm 32, carried by the rock shaft 30, cooperates with a toggle link 33. At its upper end the toggle link 33 is pivotally secured, as at 34, to the rear end portion of a lever 35. Lever 35 is centrally pivoted, as at 36, to the side of C-shaped head 4. Secured to the free forward end of the lever 35 is a presser foot element 37 having an annular opening 38 therein which loosely encompasses the die element 5 and is concentric therewith when same is in the operative position of Fig. 5. A bar-like hook 39 is centrally pivotally secured to the upper end portion of the segment 27, as indicated at 40. The forward end portion of the hook member 39 is preferably bifurcated to provide a pair of upper and lower jaws 41 and 42 respectively. A coil spring 43, interposed between the rear end portion of the hook 39 and a pivot pin 44 projecting outwardly from the segment 27, biases the hook toward a position whereby the lower edge surface 45 of the hook 39, rearwardly spaced from the jaws 41 and 42, slides along the horizontal pin element 46, which forms a part of the crank arm 32, during an initial rocking movement of the segment 27, as indicated in the full line position of Fig. 4. Continued movement of the segment 27 in the same direction to the limit of said initial rocking movement will cause the toggle members 32 and 33 to move beyond dead center as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, through engagement of the upper end portion of the segment 27 with an abutment portion 47 on the crank arm 32. The coil spring 48, interposed between an adjustable nut 49 on the upper end portion of the toggle link 33, biases the toggle members 32 and 33 toward positions on opposite sides of dead center.

As shown, a pair of links 50, pivotally secured to the pivot pin 44, are connected to a treadle element 51, secured for rocking movements on a horizontal axis in the lower end portion of supporting structure 2.

It will be noted that the pin element 46 associated with the crank arm 32 is in a position to be received between the jaws 41 and 42 respectively of the hook 39 when the toggle elements 32 and 33 are in the position of Fig. 5. Note also that the presser foot 37 is in engagement with the mattress wall A when the toggle links 32 and 33 are so positioned. By reference particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 it willbe noted that the upper jaw 41 of the hook 39 is provided with a recess 52 into which pin element 46 is adapted to be received when the segment 27 is reciprocated a second time, as will hereinafter become apparent. Obviously, return of the segment to the dotted line position of Fig. 5 will cause the toggle-acting members 32 and 33 to pass over dead center to the full line position of Fig. 4 and likewise cause the presser foot 37 to be elevated from the mattress wall A.

By particular reference to Figs. 4 and 5, it will also be noted that an elongated arm 53 is pivotally secured, as at 54, to the cam 18. As shown, the hooked rear end portion 55 of the arm 53 rides upon a tripper pin 56 projecting laterally outwardly from the segment 27. As shown in Fig. 5, the hooked end 55 is rearwardly spaced from the tripper pin 56 during movements of the segment 27 from the dotted to the full line positions thereof when the cam 18 is in a position to permit lowering movements of the punch rod 16. However, shown in Fig. 4, when the cam element 18 has been moved to a position to cause elevation of the punch rod 16, the hooked rear end portion 55 of the arm 53 is in a position to be engaged by the tripper pin 56 during movements from the full line to the dotted line positions of the segment 27 whereby to automatically return the cam member 18 and the punch rod 16 to the position of Fig. 5. A coil tension spring 46:: has its opposite ends connected to the pin element 46 and the tripper pin 56, and exerts a yielding bias on the pin element 46 to move the toggle elements 32 and 33 to their full line positions of Fig. 4 when the segment 27 is moved to its dotted line position of Fig. 4.

When it is desired to operate my novel structure, a mattress wall A is placed over the punch unit when the die element 5 is elevated therefrom as seen in Fig. 1. Manually, the operator then lifts upwardly and forwardly on the arm 22 to position the same in the position of Fig. 4 and to elevate the punch rod 16 and punch 11 which, in turn, elevates the mattress above the punch unit. Upward and forward movement of the arm 22 causes the hooked end 55 of the arm 53 to be moved toward the front of the machine into contact engagement above the pin 56 as shown by the dotted line position of pin 56, segment 27 and arm 53 of Fig. 4. Thereafter the treadle 51 is stepped upon by the operator whereby to elevate the segment 27 from said dotted line position to the full line position of said figure, and through it to elevate the link 28, thereby imparting rocking movements to the lever 8 to depress the die element 5 to cause same to have operative engagement with the punch rod 16 and punch element 11 to cut an opening in the mattress wall A. Sleeve 13 is yieldingly biased into engagement with the bottom surface of the mattress wall to hold the mattress wall against the die element 5 during this punching operation. During the upward rotary movement of the segment 27, the lower surface 45 of the hook 39 slides along the cross pin 46 and engagement of the forward edge of the segment 27 with the abutment 47 of the crank arm 32 moves the toggle elements 32 and 33 from the full to the dotted line positions of Fig. 4 so as to move the presser foot 37 from the full to the dotted line positions thereof.

This ends the first step of the operation and consequently the foot of the operator is removed from the treadle 51, and the die element 5, the lever 8, link 28, the segment 27, and parts carried thereby are returned to the position of Fig. 1, and to the dotted position of said segment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, under action of springs 29 on rock shaft 23. Note also that during this downward swinging movement of the segment 27, the tripper pin 56 engages the hooked end 55 of the arm 53 and automatically returns same from t e punch rod elevated position typified by the full lines showing of Fig. 4 to the dotted line position of Fig. 5 wherein the punch rod is allowed to retract under the action of spring 20. However, the presser foot 37 and toggle members 32 and 33 will remain in the beyond-dead-center dotted line position of Fig. 4 under action of spring 48, so as to prevent lateral shifting of the mattress wall A with respect to the opening therein punched by the lowering movements of the die element 5.

The second phase of the operation comprises placing, by the operator, the grommet of Fig. 8 into the opening in the mattress wall A. In order to crimp the lower end of the grommet, so as to permanently secure same to the mattress A around said hole, the operator again places his foot upon the treadle 51, depresses same so as to elevate the segment 27, the link 28, rock the lever 8, and depressing the die element 5, thus causing the grommet to be flattened out against the punch elements as shown in Fig. 7. Note that the tapered upper end 14 of the sleeve 13 imparts initial outward flaring movements to the grommet. It is also important to note that during the upward rocking movements of the segment 27 on this second phase of the operation, that the hook 39 is so positioned by the spring 43 as to receive the pin element 46 between its jaws 41 and 42, and more specifically, within the notch 52 thereof, as shown in Fig. 5 The second phase of the operation is now complete and the operator again removes his foot from the treadle 51 so as to again permit return of the die element 5, the lever 8, the link 28, and segment 27 to the full line position of Fig. 1. By reference to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be noted that during the last-mentioned downward swinging movement of the segment 27, and hook 39 pivotally mounted thereon, to the dotted line position, that toggle elements 32 and 33 will be returned by pull of notch 52 on pin 46 to the full line position of said elements 32 and 33 shown in Fig. 4, thus placing the machine in condition for a new cycle of operation as above described.

.While I have described the operation of only one of the cooperating punch and die elements, and parts associated therewith, the drawings show a gang of identical elements mounted in side by side relationship. Furthermore, I wish it to be understood that the machine is capable of considerable modification, without departure from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A combination punch and grommet setting device for compressible mattress walls and the like; said device comprising supporting structure including a bed plate and a head in overlying spaced relation thereto; cooperating punch and die elements mounted for movements toward and away from each other, one in said bed plate and the other in said head; a crank member mounted on said supporting stmcture for limited swinging movements; linkage operatively connecting said crank member to one of said elements whereby to impart movements thereto toward and away from the other of said elements; a presser foot mounted for movements toward and away from said bed plate and having an opening therein for the reception of one of said elements, said presser foot being engageable with a compressible wall placed on said bed plate in laterally spaced relation to said elements; and means for imparting movement to the presser foot toward and away from engagement with said wall, said last-mentioned means comprising a toggle-acting crank arm mounted for swinging movements on the supporting structure in spaced relation to said crank member, a rigid toggle link connecting said crank arm with the presser foot, said toggle-acting crank arm and toggle link forming a toggle joint positioned beyond dead center relationship when said presser foot is in operative engagement with said wall, a hook mounted for swinging movement on said crank member, and means yieldingly urging said hook in a direction to engage said crank arm, said crank arm being movable by said crank member upon an initial movement of said crank member in one direction to move said toggle joint over dead center relationship to cause engagement of said presser foot with said wall, one of said toggle members being engaged by said hook upon a subsequent movement of said crank member in the same direction, whereby, when said crank member is thereafter moved in the opposite direction, the book will move said engaged toggle member in a toggle joint retracting direction over dead center relationship to lrlnove said presser foot out of engagement with said wa 2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the punch element is mounted in the bed plate, and in further combination with manual means for extending said punch element, and means for automatically retracting said punch element upon movement of said crank member in one direction.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which said manual means comprises a cam rotatable in one direction to extend said punch element through the bed plate, and in which said last-mentioned means includes a pin on said crank member and a hook pivotally secured to said cam and overlying said pin, said pin being movable in one direction independently of said hook and engaging said hook upon movement of said crank member in the opposite direction to cause rotation of said cam in a direction to permit retraction of said punch element.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said presser foot is annular in shape and in which the opening therein is concentric with said punch and die elements when the presser foot is in its operative wallengaging position.

5. A combination punch and grommet setting device for compressible walls, said device comprising supporting structure including a bed plate and a head in overlying spaced relation thereto, a punch mounted in said bed plate for extending retracting movements in a vertical plane, a die mounted for reciprocal movements toward and away from said punch, an operating lever pivotally secured to said head and in operative engagement with said die, a rock shaft journalled on said supporting structure, crank means mounted on said rock shaft for common movements therewith, a pitman rod connecting said crank means with said operating lever, said crank means including a segment fast on said rock shaft, a presser foot mounted for movements toward and away from said bed plate and having an opening therein for the reception of said punch and die, said presser foot being engageable with a compressible wall placed on the bed plate in laterally spaced relationship to the punch and die, a crank arm mounted for swinging movements on the supporting structure in spaced relation to said segment, a rigid link connecting said crank arm with the presser foot, said crank arm and link forming a toggle joint positioned beyond dead center relationship when said presser foot is in operative engagement with said compressible wall, a hook mounted for swinging movement on said crank member, and means yieldingly urging said hook in a direction to engage the crank arm, said crank arm being movable by the segment upon an initial rocking movement of said rock shaft in one direction to move said toggle joint over dead center relationship to cause engagement of the presser foot with said compressrble wall, said crank arm being engageable by said hook upon a subsequent rotation of said rock shaft in the same direction, whereby, when said rock shaft is thereafter rotated in the opposite direction, the hook will move said crank arm in a toggle joint retracting direction over dead center relationship to move the presser foot out of engagement with said wall.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 in further combination with yielding means biasing said rock shaft in one direction of rotation, and manually operated means for imparting rotation to the rock shaft in an opposite direction against bias of said yielding means, said manually operated means comprising a treadle prvotally mounted on said supporting structure and a rigid link connected at one end to said treadle and at its other end to said segment.

7. The structure defined in claim 5 in further combination with yielding means biasing said punch in a punch retracted direction away from said die, a cam engageable with said punch, manually operated means for rotating said cam in a direction to move said punch in a punch extending direction against bias of said yielding means, and mechanism for rotating said cam in the opposite direction to permit retraction of said punch, said mechanism comprising a pin on said segment and a hook pivotally secured to said cam and overlying said pin, said pin being movable with said segment in one direction independently of said hook and engaging said hook upon movements of said segment in the opposite direction to cause rotation of said cam in a direction to permit retraction of the punch.

8. A combination punch and grommet setting device for compressible walls, said device comprising supporting structure including a bed plate and a head in overlying spaced relation thereto, a punch mounted in said bed plate for extending retracting movements in a vertical plane, a die mounted for reciprocal movements toward and away from said punch, an operating lever pivotally secured to said head and in operative engagement with said die, a rock shaft journalled on said supporting structure, a crank member mounted on said rock shaft for common movements therewith, a pitman rod connecting said crank member with said operating lever, said crank member including a segment fast on said rock shaft, a presser foot mounted for movements toward and away from said bed plate and having an opening therein for the reception of said punch and die, said presser foot being engageable with a compressible wall placed on the bed plate in laterally spaced relationship to the punch and die, a crank arm mounted for swinging movements on the supporting structure in spaced relation to said segment, a rigid link connecting said crank arm with the presser foot, said crank arm and link forming a toggle joint positioned beyond dead center relationship when said presser foot is in operative engagement with said compressible wall, a hook mounted for swinging movement on said crank member, said crank arm having an abutment thereon which is engageable by said segment upon an initial rotation of said rock shaft in one direction to move said toggle joint over dead center relationship to cause engagement of the presser foot with said compressible wall, a pin element on said crank arm, and means yieldingly urging said hook into alignment with said pin element to cause hooking engagement between said hook and pin element when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction and thereafter again rotated in said one direction, whereby, when said rock shaft is thereafter again rotated in said opposite direction, the hook will move said crank arm in a toggle joint retracting direction over dead center relationship to move the presser foot out of compressing engagement with said wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 63,904 Juge Apr. 16, 1867 1,217,521 Snyder Feb. 27, 1917 2,056,316 Gookin Oct. 6, 1936 

